No, Loch Ness hasn't been piped down to Edinburgh in order that tourists needn't bother making the long journey north. Based on the work of Loch Ness expert Adrian Shine, the...

Probably the city's best-known joke shop. You can't miss it: just look for the oversized Groucho moustache and glasses above the front door. It also sells magic tricks and...

Thanks to its prime site, bang on the Royal Mile, this contemporary café can get terribly crowded in August. But it's well worth trying for a table; the quality of food on...

Analogue deals in books on design and contemporary culture. As well as glossy tomes on fashion, illustration, graffiti and graphic design, there's a gallery space and...

Stowed away behind Edinburgh's finest graphic arts shop, this intimate space packs in works from Britain's hippest illustrators and designers. The gallery functions as an...

A family-run Scottish design company, Anta sells a selection of hand-painted stoneware and textiles.

The Apex International's dramatic 2002 transformation from bland mid-market residence to sleek designer spot still holds steady, epitomising mainstream contemporary style. All...

Everyone from the Kaiser Chiefs to Kylie has stopped to browse at this massively popular Edinburgh institution. Clothing here spans the last 100 years, with everything from...

If you're in an upbeat mood, with company, and looking for nachos and lager or wine, Assembly is a good option. Hit it on the wrong day or come on your own, though, and the...

Sacrificing some factual accuracy for engaging pantomime, tour guides lead you through the streets of Edinburgh to a section of the Underground Vaults, where you'll allegedly...

A huge range of new and second-hand pipes, plus a beginner's tutoring kit for under £30. Probably best ask the neighbours first.

The Bank's nine rooms, situated above popular post-work hangout Logie Baird's Bar, are accessed via a hidden doorway at the rear. The mood is determinedly Caledonian, with wood...

The cavernous network of wee rooms that make up this well-worn boozer have hosted all manner of musicians over the years. Formerly a folkie favourite, it's now a bolt-hole for...

Bar Kohl has provided Edinburgh's vodka connoisseurs with a second home since its launch in 1993. There are innumerable imported varieties of vodka, including many flavoured...